Call for more St Helier deputies in place of two senators

Friday, 22 August 2025 10:30

There has been a last-minute call to change the plans to reintroduce senators to Jersey's politics, with St Helier's Constable calling out the parish's under-representation.

Constable Simon Crowcroft wants to see the number of island-wide representatives returning to the States Assembly reduced to seven, rather than the proposed nine.

Instead, he wants two additional town deputies, one for St Helier North and one for St Helier South.

He says St Helier is the most under-represented parish in Jersey, and that current plans for three representatives for St Helier North and South and four for Central exacerbate that situation.

Under the suggestion approved in March, there would be far more town residents for each representative, compared with other constituencies:

If Constable Crowcroft's amendment is approved, St Helier would remain the most under-represented, although it would address the issue in the capital:

He also says he recognises that this does not amend the variance in other parishes, but this would involve more complex and controversial changes, such as merging Grouville/St Martin and St Clement.

"With the changes to our system of elections already being eleventh hour, I do not consider such an adjustment to be feasible, whereas reducing the number of senators from nine to seven is a simple step for us to take in order to address the most serious problem of a democratic deficit in St Helier."

The Assembly would stay its current size (49 members)

Senators were scrapped in 2022, but Deputy Elaine Millar narrowly secured their shock comeback earlier this year.

Politicians will vote early next month on the legislation to bring the change in time for next June's election.